FROM THE KWHI NEWSROOM

Brenham Fire Chief Ricky Boeker was looking for direction on whether to apply for SAFER grants to add six more firefighters to the Brenham Fire Department. At Thursday’s afternoon’s workshop session on the matter he got that direction. The City Council and Mayor Milton Tate said not this year.

Assistant City Manager Kyle Dannhaus and City
Fire Chief Ricky Boeker.

Boeker told the Council that he would need the additional firefighters if the city was to go forward and build the new fire substation. City Manager Terry Roberts noted that the grant would fully cover the additional firefighters for two years but the first year they would be awaiting the construction of the new substation. Roberts also said that the 290 project is coming up in less than two years and that would stress the city’s budget.

Assistant City Manager Kyle Dannhaus said that now is a good time to construct the station because, due to the slow economy, construction prices are down. City Councilman Danny Goss asked Boeker what would happen if the city were to apply for the grant but the city could not use it. Boeker said that would have a bad affect on any future application for the grant.

Mayor Milton Tate said the city was not ‘ready to pull the trigger’ on the grant and that was the consensus of the city council.

BRAVE CITIZEN HONORED

(NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009)

Brenham police were finally able to apprehend a Chappell Hill man after a chase and struggle during the late night hours of November 2^nd. What we didn’t know at the time was that a brave Brenham man helped in the capture.

Mayor Milton Tate honors Jeff Koehne.

The reports from that night say that 27-year old Luke Daniel Ladewig drove away from officer Miguel Tejeda while driving on East Alamo at about 11:40pm, November 2^nd. Ladewig kept going and a short chase ensued to the 4600 block of Chappell Hill Road.

Ladewig allegedly bolted from the vehicle and, at that point, private citizen Jeff Koehne enlisted to help. Using his own vehicle and running into terraine familiar to him but not to local police, Koehne helped the police track down Ladewig who was fleeing the law on foot. Koehne, with his four-wheel drive vehicle was able to find and stop Ladewig. Officer Tejeda caught up with Ladewig but the suspect continued to fight with him.

Police Chief Rex Phelps honored Koehne at last night’s Brenham City Council meeting for ‘showing the spirit that is part of the community.’ Mayor Milton Tate presented Koehne with a plaque honoring him and his actions.

VISITOR'S CENTER AT SIMON

(NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009)

When the Simon Theater finally opens as a convention center it will also have a visitor’s center. The Brenham City Council passed a resolution supporting putting the visitor’s center there at their meeting last night. The Hotel Occupancy Tax Board, the City and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce supports the move. HOT Board Chair Steve Finn says that the Simon, the convention center complete with the visitor’s center should be ready in about a year.

HOT Board Chair
Steve Finn.

The cost of the renovation of the Simon to build out a location for the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau would be borned by the Simon non-profit at a projected cost of $900,000 to one million dollars.

Tours of the Simon will be offered on Sunday afternoon.

CHURCH IN A DAY

(NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009)

Before it’s time for Sunday services, the Inglesia Pentecostal Unida, the United Pentecostal Church, will be up and ready. Volunteer workers, all in the construction trades are building a ‘church in a day’, at highway 36 north just past Hohlt Park in Brenham. The Rev. Greg Steele is directing this project.

Building a church in a day on Highway 36 north.

Steele says they will work through the forecast of rain, noting that they have never had to begin a project in the rain. Thursday morning, the workers were constructing the frames for the walls and those walls are being raised Friday morning. The Church in a Day project is under the South Texas District of the United Pentecostal Church. Steele says that this is a nationwide project that has built over a hundred churches. This is the seventeenth church built in Texas.

Steele says the workers are donating their time and labor, and get to the project on their own, paying for their own gasoline, meals and hotel.

Steele says the Pentecostal Church organization pays for the project up front and the local church will pay the money back.

The site of the church is also the site of the previous church and a meat packing plant.

WATER TOWER PHASE TWO

(NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009)

The west side water tower project is continuing and the Brenham City Council approved a contract at Thursday night’s meeting that would allow the project to continue.

The water tower project would expand the water pressure plane and areas above the 372 elevation. The phase two work will include the installation of approximately 3600 linear feet of water line along North Dixie Street between Main and North Dixie to FM 577.

Matula and Matula Construction was the low bidder on the phase two improvements with a base bid of $523,863. That bid is under the estimated costs of $836,098.

H1N1 VACCINE AT TRINITY

(NOVEMBER 19TH, 2009)

The H1N1 vaccine is available at the Trinity Wellness Center for area residents who fall into the Centers for Disease Control designated priority groups.

The vaccine for the H1N1 virus along with the seasonal flu for children only, will be provided from 8am to noon on Friday and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 am and on Wednesday afternoon from one to five pm. No appointment is required during these scheduled times. There will be no vaccinations on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that programs and providers administer the vaccine to persons in the following five target groups until the H1N1 Vaccine is more widely available.

These groups are pregnant women, persons living with or provide medical services personnel, persons aged six months to 24 years, persons between the ages of 25 to 64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza related complications. There is no charge for the H1N1 Vaccines.

For more information call the Trinity Wellness Center at 830 5017.

CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS SIMON THEATER

(NOVEMBER 19TH, 2009)

Work continues in the renovation effort at the Simon Theater in downtown Brenham. There are numerous uses in store for the theater when the work is done in a few months and one possible use is having the Visitor’s Center there.

When the Brenham City Council meets this afternoon they are expected to pass a resolution favoring that move and Steve Finn, the chair of the Hotel Occupancy Tax Board says that this is a good idea.

Work continues on the Simon Theater.

Finn says the HOT Board, the City Council and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce are working together on this issue. The Visitor’s Center is currently at the Chamber offices at 314 South Austin.

The Brenham City Council will discuss the matter during today’s city council meeting. The Brenham City Council meets at five-fifteen with a workshop beginning at four.

HOLIDAY HOME TOUR

(NOVEMBER 19TH, 2009)

You have a chance to do all of your Christmas shopping a the Giddings Stone Mansion this weekend during the 2009 Holiday Home Tour and Trunk Show.

The trunk show is from 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday where you can catch the Christmas spirit at the Mansion. The Mansion will be packed with vendors and their holiday wares. The home tour is from one to four. Seven homes of historic and architectural note are beautifully decorated for Christmas and are sure to put you in a holiday mood.

Admission is ten dollars per person and tickets are available only at the Mansion. They are valid on both days. You can also join the group at the mansion from five to six on Saturday after the tour for wine, cheese and door prizes.

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO THREE ARRESTS

(NOVEMBER 19TH, 2009)

A traffic stop for a back seat unbuckled seat belt led to the arrest of three Brenham men Tuesday night.

Brenham police officer Joseph Merkley stopped a 2000 Buick at Blue Bell Road and Highway 105, at about 8:51 Tuesday night because the back seat passenger did not have his seat belt buckled, as a new law requires.

Once Merkley got to the car he could detect the odor of marijuana and that led to a search. He found what he believed to be marijuana and arrested 20-year old Forrest Conrad Bertolet, 19-year old Kyle Wade Cosburn and 21-year old Andrew Joseph Stuart.

Cosburn was also arrested for the possession of dangerous drugs because he had some prescription medication on him, as well. Stuart was arrested for drug paraphrenalia.

HOME BURGLARY

(NOVEMBER 19TH, 2009)

A Brenham woman reports to Brenham police that when she came to her home in the 400 block of Peabody Monday afternoon she discovered a burglary.

Shandolyn Lewis reports that the burglars took a 42 inch flat screen television and a jar of coins. She said that they got in the house by forcing open a front window. Police are investigating.

BLINN COLLEGE INCREASES TUITION

(NOVEMBER 18TH, 2009)

There are over 17,000 students in the four Blinn College campuses and most of them will be paying more to continue their education after last night’s (Tuesday) meeting of the Blinn College Board of Trustees.

The board approved a four dollar per semester hour increase for out of district students and out of state students. The 700 to 800 in district students, those who live in Washington County, will continue to pay $35 per semester hour. Out of District students will pay $68 per semester hour, out of state students will pay $144 per semester hour.

Blinn Vice-President Van Miller speaks to the board
about tuition increases.

There are other increases. All students will be paying an additional two dollars in the general fee, to $30. There is an increase in the health center fees of one dollar and the health and kinesiology fees, currently $40 would raise the fees for such courses to $45. The fees for the TEACH Program would be reduced from $3900 to $3200. The housing rates for students would be raised $50 a semester. There is also a raise in the various meal plans.

Blinn College’s Vice-President for Business Van Miller told the Board that this was the least favorite thing he and the staff to do, that is limiting ability to go to college. He said that the increases are necessary because of the appropriations structure. Dr. Miller said that there was no increase in appropriations coming in from the state next year. Blinn President Dr. Dan Holt said the college had so many demands that the increase was necessary. Board member Johnny Lacina asked why there is an extra burden put on the students. Miller noted that other community colleges in the state had a higher tax rate and a broader tax base.

Miller told the Board that right now Blinn is 22^nd in the state’s 50 community colleges in tuition and the increase would probably bring them up to 17^th.

FORMER DEPUTY ARRESTED AND INDICTED

(NOVEMBER 18TH, 2009)

A former deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s office has been indicted on two charges.

Forty-three year old Mary Laskoskie, who was fired from the Sheriff’s office in June was indicted last week for giving false information to obtain property and credit card abuse. The 21^st district court grand jury handed down the indictments last week.

She was terminated from the Sheriff’s office on June 23^rd after a Texas Rangers and Sheriff’s office investigation for the unauthorized use of credit cards.

Laskoskie had worked for the Sheriff’s office for over eight years. She was taken into custody, processed and then released on bail on Monday.

NEW EDF BOARD ELECTED

(NOVEMBER 18TH, 2009)

The Economic Development Foundation of Brenham announced (Tuesday) that its members have elected five directors to serve a three year term on the board starting this month. Four newcomers to the board are Cory Flencher of Citizens State Bank, Vance Hamilton of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, Billy Holle of Seidel, Schroeder and Company, and Mike Shoup of Antique Rose Emporium. One has been reelected to serve another term on the board was David Yeager, the retired Brenham school superintendent and now heads up DLY Services.

The EDF Board consists of 15 total members, with three sets of five directors serving staggered terms. Other returning directors include William Krueger, consulting engineer, Paul Kruse of Blue Bell Creameries, Brett Smith from Lee Anderson Company, Leon Toubin, independent businessman, Don Voelter, retired from Blinn College, David Bockhorn from Bank of Brenham, Steve Haley from Moorman, Tate Law firm, Jon Hill of Appel Ford Mercury, Barbara Maurer of Chase Bank and Stephen Miller from Brenham Wholesale Grocery.

EDF Board Chair Luther Hueske says that ‘a great deal of gratitude’ goes out for the many years of dedication and service that these board members provided, and they are excited about the mix of talent and experience that the new directors will bring to the board.

The Economic Development Foundation of Brenham was created in 1953 to promote the development of industry in the city and the creation of jobs in the community.

POINSETTIA CELEBRATION THIS WEEKEND

(NOVEMBER 18TH, 2009)

P.J. Ellison-Kalil says this year’s Annual Poinsettia Celebration at Ellison’s Greenhouse means two important milestones. It is the 19^th anniversary of the Celebration of the flower that means Christmas for so many people, it is also the 40^th anniversary of Ellison’s Greenhouse.

The Poinsettia Celebration is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday and the greenhouse, at the corner of Stone and FM 577, will be filled with thousands, often huge poinsettias. Ellison-Kalil says the point is to bring joy to this special time of the year.

The Poinsettia Tree is always a highlight of the
Poinsettia Celebration.

Ellison-Kalil says the Celebration is from 10am to 4pm both Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children. She says there will be plenty of vendors with food, gifts and other high end items.

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